About this past Feb 2012, my left arm just started hurting. I felt like someone punched me in the arm after having a flu shot. (which I never take) It just keeps getting worse. Now I can't raise arm up, can't put my left arm behind my back, or above my head, or out to the side. I can just resently lift my arm up to shoulder level in front of me and that's only because I go to Physical Therapy 3 times a week. The pain has started to now travels down to my hands and my right shoulder is also starting to ache. My finger tips go numb at the same time when I'm trying to do something that requires fine motor skills. Sometimes both arms go numb, The paing is like having a nagging tooth ache that just won't go away. I'm worried that I might be at the begining of having MS. Does anyone else have this problem?

kenzibenzi

05-23-2012 09:57 PM

Re: Shoulder and arm pain for too long

If you go to physical therapy, then you must have seen a doctor for them to order it. What did your doctor say about your arm pain, and did the doctor order any tests? I sure hope you feel better soon, your pain sound horrible.

~Hugs,Kenzi.

always hurting

05-23-2012 11:23 PM

Re: Shoulder and arm pain for too long

I pretty much requested PT. I have One doctor that seems very worried because I have disk problems at C5-C6-C7. But when he goes up higher to a surgen , the surgen tells him that it's not bad enought. By the way I'm a Veteran, and they seem to right me off as just alittle arthris. The Surgen couldn't even tell me why my arms go numb. He said he had no idea. Well I could look that much up on the internet and know I have pinched nerves. But this thing with my shoulder is new and seem to hurt more and more and now its spreading to my right side. The PT is not sure. He says it could be from my neck or from my spine but he really doesn't know for sure. I've been in several car accidents through the years. (not all my fault!!) I'm just tired of going around in circles from one doctor to the next. I just want to know exactly what's wrong, and how long am i going to have to suffer. Thanks for listening!

Swanlady21

05-23-2012 11:55 PM

Re: Shoulder and arm pain for too long

I have exactly what you have - left arm too. It's common name is Frozen Shoulder. The medical name is "Adhesive Capsulitis". Happens a lot with menopausal women. I think estrogen protects us from a lot . . . it is anti-inflammatory!! I was diagnosed and sent to a physio. Went to 4-5 session and made no difference. But then I found another physio who specialises in pain etc. (he has studied for 11 years - also studied acupuncture). I could not move my arm more than 45 degrees up, but after one session I was at 90 degrees, and after second session almost 180. I am not yet back to full mobility, but at least at 90%. It normally takes 1-2 years. Some people end up having operations (spoken to 2, and although it's better, it's not back to 100% movement).

You need to find a physio who knows how to deal with it.

jennybyc

05-25-2012 12:58 PM

Re: Shoulder and arm pain for too long

I had surgery on both of my shoulders for torn rotator cuffs....gives very similar symptoms to what you described...can't lift your arm up or behind the back. Sp that is a possibility. but in my case, I had the surgeries and then found I was still in pain. turned out the source of most of my pain was in my neck. So you can both problems at the same time quite easily.

What needs to be done is an MRI of your shoulder(the one that started the trouble) and your neck. The shoulder MRI will show if you have a frozen shoulder or a torn rotator cuff or other problems that need to be fixed. The MRI of your neck will show how far the problem there has progressed.

Once you develop numbness, the neurosurgeons usually start paying attention. Pain form a bad neck is treated with pain management. A painful nerve is an alive and kicking nerve so they don't pay attention to pain. But numbness means the nerves are starting to get so compressed, they are in danger of permanent damage and the compression may need to be removed.

So go back to the doc and ask about getting MRI's and tell them about every bit of numbness you have, including associated symptoms such as tingling, pins and needles sensations and any muscle weakness you've noticed or trouble with your hands such as dropping things you thought you had a grip on or trouble holding a pen/pencil. These are signs of nerve compromise.....be persistent....the VA doesn't want to spend the money on expensive MRI's if they don't want to but in this case, they should.

You may still have time to wait before the spine is ready to really be worked on and you can get the shoulder fixed in the meantime if it needs it. Spine surgeons don't like to operate until they absolutely have to as every spine surgery has the risk of paralysis so be prepared to wait for a while.